In the period between September and December, Sanquin Research’s research into blood donations shows that the amounts of antibodies against corona in the blood of donors decrease further. That was the expectation. Interestingly, those infected with corona have more antibodies, and show less decrease in antibodies, than those who have only been vaccinated. Sanquin reports this.
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“Antibodies in respiratory infections usually decrease quickly over time,” explains Hans Zaaijer, medical microbiologist and chief researcher at Sanquin. “In previous research, we already saw that the amount of anti-Covid-19 antibodies halves approximately every 3 months. Our most recent study among Dutch blood donors also shows this. We hope that there will be a plateau, so that the antibodies do not disappear completely. But we don’t see that reflected in the numbers yet.”
Don’t worry
Hans Zaaijer is not worried about this result from his research. “We are seeing the number of ready ‘soldiers’, the antibodies, decrease, so to speak. But we can’t say when you’ll have too few. Because our research cannot show how effective against Covid-19 is the immune memory (which produces new antibodies very quickly with a new infection) or the innate immune system (which is able to stop new infections via skin, mucous membranes or physical flora). Purely on the basis of declining antibodies, it is not possible to predict whether and when we are really significantly more susceptible to Covid-19.”
Nice on time
About 20 percent of blood donors have had a corona infection, and in total Sanquin has found antibodies in 97 percent. So most are vaccinated. The decrease in antibodies in the blood is stronger in vaccinated people than in blood donors who have been infected. “But the government has of course already started the booster program,” adds Hans Zaaijer. “I think it’s right on time, the oldest in the Netherlands have been vaccinated for the first time, so the decline in antibodies has been going on there for some time. By boosting now, I expect that we will be in good shape at the next peak with an average increase in the number of antibodies again.”
By: National Care Guide
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